Sales were $172 million, a decrease of 18% from $209 million in the third quarter of 2015, and a decrease of 15% from $203 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Fourth quarter net income was $25.5 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, compared to net income of $29.8 million, or $0.56 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2015, and $34.2 million, or $0.64 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Non-GAAP net earnings, which exclude special charges and credits, were $18.4 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, compared to $31.5 million, or $0.59 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2015, and $29.1 million, or $0.54 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Full Year Results

Sales were $814 million, an increase of 4% from $781 million in 2014. Net income was $122 million, or $2.28 per diluted share, compared to $116 million, or $2.16 per diluted share in 2014. Non-GAAP net earnings were $119 million, or $2.22 per diluted share, compared to $101 million, or $1.89 per diluted share in 2014. Cash and investments at December 31st were $658 million, or approximately $12.37 per share. Total book value, net of goodwill and intangibles, was $917 million or approximately $17.24 per share.

Commenting on the company’s financial results, Gerald Colella, Chief Executive Officer and President, said, “The fourth quarter finished stronger than expected, as the softening we witnessed in the semiconductor market abated somewhat at the very end of the year. With 4% sales growth for the full year, we achieved a significant increase in profitability, testament to the continued improvements we have made to our target operating model. As we begin 2016, recent company reports and analyst estimates forecast a continued healthy environment in our served markets, which bodes well for continued strong financial results for MKS in the coming year.

“Based on current business levels, we expect that sales in the first quarter of 2016 may range from $165 to $185 million, and at these volumes, our non-GAAP net earnings could range from $0.25 to $0.38 per share and GAAP net income could range from $0.23 to $0.36 per share.”

Conference Call Details

A conference call with management will be held on Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time). To participate in the conference call, please dial (877) 212-6076 for domestic callers and (707) 287-9331 for international callers, and an operator will connect you. Participants will need to provide the operator with the Conference ID of 11158287, which has been reserved for this call. A live and archived webcast of the call will be available on the company’s website at www.mksinst.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Results

Non-GAAP amounts exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets, costs associated with completed acquisitions, income related to the sale of excess and obsolete inventory previously written down to net realizable value, certain excess and obsolete inventory charges, an inventory step-up adjustment related to an acquisition, restructuring charges, discrete tax benefits and charges, and the related tax effect of these adjustments. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). MKS' management believes the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors for comparing prior periods and analyzing ongoing business trends and operating results.

About MKS Instruments

MKS Instruments, Inc. is a global provider of instruments, subsystems and process control solutions that measure, control, power, monitor and analyze critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes to improve process performance and productivity. Our products are derived from our core competencies in pressure measurement and control, materials delivery, gas composition analysis, control and information technology, power and reactive gas generation, and vacuum technology. Our primary served markets are manufacturers of capital equipment for semiconductor devices, and for other thin film applications including flat panel displays, solar cells, light emitting diodes, data storage media, and other advanced coatings. We also leverage our technology in other markets with advanced manufacturing applications including medical equipment, pharmaceutical manufacturing, energy generation and environmental monitoring.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains projections or other forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27 of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act regarding MKS' future growth and the future financial performance of MKS. These projections or statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the projections or other forward-looking statements set forth herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those in the projections or other forward-looking statements are the fluctuations in capital spending in the semiconductor industry, and other advanced manufacturing markets, fluctuations in net sales to MKS' major customers, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, the challenges, risks and costs involved with integrating the operations of MKS and any acquired companies, dependence on new product development, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, manufacturing and sourcing risks, volatility of stock price, international operations, financial risk management, and future growth subject to risks. Readers are referred to MKS' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for a discussion of these and other important risk factors concerning MKS and its operations. MKS is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.